Coffin



(No Model.)

Gr. REYNOLDS.

GOFPIN.

Patented Jan. 26, 1886.

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GILBERT REYNOLDS, OF RIDGEEIELD, CONNECTICUT.

COFFIN.

:BPECIFIQATEON forming part of Letters Patent No, 33%,808, dated January 26, 1886.

Application filed December 10, 1885. Serial No. 155,287. (No model.)

To all 1071 0722, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT REYNoLDs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ridge field, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coffin Attachments; andI do declare the following to be a full ,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figu res of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to coffins or burialcaskets; and the novelty consists in the peculiar arrangement, construction, and adaptation of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In this class of devices a reasonable regard for the feelings of others, particularly the mourners, renders it desirable that the lids of coffins should be secured to the bodies of the coffins with as little noise and mechanical manipulation as possible. The turning of screws, or the withdrawal and projection of bolts, are features to be avoided. I provide such a locking connection between the cover and body of the coffin that the lid may be noiselessly pushed into locking contact with the body by a simple movement of the lid in one direction, peculiar springs acting automatically to hold the locking parts into engagement. The undertaker or other attendant has no duties to perform other than to force the lid noiselessly into place.

The invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a coffin-body with the lid removed. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section, and Fig. 3 a bottom plan view of the lid.

To enable others to make and use the inven tion, I will describe the construction and mode of operation, referring for that purpose to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the fignres-thusz A designates the body of any ordinary coffin or casket, having along its upper edges, at proper intervals, two or more recesses, a. These recesses a may be formed directly in the wood of the body and of specific forms, or they may be simple recesses covered by metal plates having specific forms. In either case they comprise, essentially, a longitudinal slot, a, an orifice, a to receive the locki11g lug,.and a flange, a", to engage said lug. The opposite edges a of the aperture a. are preferably beveled, for purposes which will be explained.

At a suitable distance from the aperture a of each lockingrecess is a recess, 13, having an abrupt shoulder, 12.

C designates the cover, slightly larger in all directions than the body of the coffin, and upon its lower face, at suitable intervals, are secured locking-frames C. Each frame comprises a plate, 0, which is secured to the lid, a lip, 0, having an oval lower contour, and an inclined lockinglng, 0 formed integral with and upon one side ofthe lip c. The incline of the lug c corresponds with the bevels a of the aperture of, and allows said lug to pass easily and smoothly under the locking-flange a". As the lug c" rides down the incline the coffin-lid comes gradually and noiselessly to its seat. The oval form of the lip 0 allows the lid to be moved easilyin either direction without tearing the cloth or marring the wood of the coffin.

Secured in a recess in the under face of the lid C is a spring, D, having upon its outer side a thumb-piece, d. The location of this spring is such that when the lid C is fairly upon its seat the free end d of said spring will engage the shoulder 12 of the recess B to prevent thewithdrawal of the locking-lug. The springs may be thrown out of engagement with these shoulders at any time by merely pressing upon the thumb-pieces d, which lie exterior to the sides of the body, and forcing them into recesses formed in said lid.

Lugs upon lids have been before used in connection with keepers or recesses in the body of the coffin, the whole being locked by a single spring bolt or catch; but this spring catch required a voluntary manipulation, which is a feature that would defeat the ob jects of my invention.

I entirely avoid any appearance of locking the corpse in confinement. Toall appearances my lid is simply placed upon the body. The locking operation is not apparent.

I esteem it important that my improved device allows the lid to be easily passed down an incline until the lid fairly reaches its seat, thus avoiding all jar, concussion, or noise, and that, being locked by an incline, there is no looseness or rattling due to imperfect fittings.

Modifications may be made within wide limits without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, the essential features of which will be readily understood.

What I claim. as new is- The combination, with a body, A, having a recess,'a, with aperture a said aperture having inclined sides, and a locking-flange, a said body having also a recess, B, with shoulder 1), of the lid O, having frame 0, with inclined lug c, and spring D, having thumbpiece d, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GILBERT REYNOLDS.

Witnesses:

W. CLARENCE DUVALL, F. A. SPEARE. 

